Please Join Us

The Downtown Santa Barbara Employee Child Care Survey is based on an employer consortium model. This provides a cost effective way to “do together what we can’t do alone,” to address the impact child care issues have on the workplace. In order to proceed with this community project, we need your support to obtain input from your employees.

All employers with 20 or more employees in the Downtown Santa Barbara area are invited to participate in the Survey. The cost of a survey of this nature is typically over $30,000 for an individual employer. However, by working together (employers contribute based on number of employees) we can significantly minimize the costs and maximize benefits.

• Access valuable information regarding employees’ child care needs and challenges as well as the impact on work performance.
• Determine potential return on investment through increased retention and greater productivity.
• Receive an individualized employee survey response analysis and a comprehensive report compiling all employee results as well as a recommendation report for next steps.
• Contribute to overall system improvements in Santa Barbara child care through cost effective participation in the Partnership.
• Receive visibility as a model employer within the City of Santa Barbara.

• Attend Kick Off Meeting on March 26. This meeting is optional.
• Assign Liaison – a representative from employer to participate in Partnership meetings and to internally coordinate Employee Survey.

• Attend Liaison Meeting on April 10, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, 924 Anacapa St., Suite 1.
• Promote and distribute survey to all employees.
• Coordinate employee participation in survey and focus groups.
• If hosting focus groups, provide space and light refreshments for attendees.
• Provide employees time and access to complete survey. Computer and hard copy versions will be available. The hard copy will also be available in Spanish.
• Collect all completed hard copy surveys from employees and submit to the Office of Early Care and Education.
• Share survey results/highlights with other employees.

Employer Contribution

This consortium model allows employers a cost effective way to “do together what we can’t do alone,” to address the impact child care issues have on the workplace. The cost of a survey of this nature is typically over $30,000 for an individual employer. However, by working together we can significantly minimize the costs and maximize benefits. The chart below shows the suggested contribution for each employer based on number of employees.

Return on Investment

Employee child care programs generate a powerful return on investment. By driving down turnover, reducing absenteeism, and increasing productivity on the job, child care and work/life programs are not only an investment in employees, but an investment in the success of your company. In fact, after the first year of employment, most employee turnover occurs among the parents of young children. By providing programs that allow those parents to work—and perform to their full capacity—leading employers reduce the recurring costs of recruiting and retaining skilled employees.

For more information on the return on investment of child care, see:
It’s Good Business to Invest in Child Care (PDF)
The Cost Benefits of Child Care (PDF)
More Stats on Child Care (PDF)

Kick-off Meeting • March 26

For more information about the survey and how to get involved, please join us at the Kick-Off Meeting on March 26th from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, 924 Anacapa St., Suite 1.

Please contact Holly Goldberg to confirm your attendance.

Sign Up!

If your business is ready to make a commitment, please contact Holly Goldberg to begin participating in the Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership Survey.

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